<aside> 💡 inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract that usually manifests with acute diarrhea, vomiting, and/or abdominal pain

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Demographics:

• May occur at any age
• High morbidity and mortality in the very young (<5), the elderly (>65), and the immunosuppressed

Aetiology

• Virus: Rota, Noro, adenovirus, HepA, HepE
• Bacteria: Salmonella, shigellam, campy, yersinia, e. coli, clostridium
• Parasite: Protozoan, Giardia, cryptosporidium, Entamoeba histo, Helminth infection

Risk factors:

• Use of proton pump inhibitors, antibiotics
• Poor sanitation & hygiene, crowded living conditions
• Day care attendance
• Immunocompromise
• Travel

Pathophysiology

1. Infected individuals shed virus/bacteria. The virus is transmitted into vehicles such as water, foods, contaminated fomites or direct person to person contact
2. An uninfected and susceptible individual is exposed to these contaminated vehicles